SOFIA, (Reuters) – The International Basketball  Federation (FIBA) have ordered Bulgarian champions Lukoil  Academic to pay two former players nearly $285,000 in unpaid  salaries and lawsuit expenses, the club said.

Former Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Stevin Smith and  Serbian guard Nenad Djoric filed for compensation over delays  in salary payments after leaving the club in 2008.

The 17-times Bulgarian champions must pay Smith $183,033  and Djoric $101,887, with FIBA ruling that Lukoil were not  allowed to sign new players until the payments had been made.

However, Lukoil sporting director Sasho Vezenkov said the  club would appeal the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for  Sport in Lausanne.